Zielinski sentenced to life in prison

Swanton Twp. man convicted of murder, felonious assault

5/6/2014

BLADE STAFF

David Zielinski is led out of the courtroom today after being sentenced by Judge Ruth Ann Franks for the murder of Michael Jackson and the kidnapping, burglary, and felonious assault of his now ex-wife Amber Hayes.

For shooting his estranged wife’s boyfriend to death and shooting at his estranged wife, a Swanton Township man was sentenced today to life in prison.

Pamela Jackson, mother of murder victim Michael Jackson reacts after speaking during the sentencing of David Zielinski. Zielinski was convicted of killing Mr. Jackson.

David Zielinski, 34, of 3859 Berkey Southern Rd., will be eligible for parole after serving 57 years in prison.

Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Ruth Ann Franks imposed the sentence today following his conviction Thursday for the murder of Michael Jackson, 20, of Toledo, and the kidnapping and felonious assault of Amber Hayes, 27, as well as aggravated burglary for climbing through a window at Ms. Hayes’ West Central Avenue home the night Mr. Jackson was killed.

A jury deliberated more than five hours but chose not to convict Zielinski on a more serious charge of aggravated murder, which would have required a finding that he had “purposely” and “with prior calculation or design” killed Mr. Jackson.

Prosecutors portrayed Zielinski as a jealous, enraged, violent man who took a gun and a knife with him to his estranged wife’s home in the dark of night to exact his revenge. Zielinski’s defense attorney Mark Geudtner said his client did not deny shooting Mr. Jackson but said he did so after finding another man in his home, in his bed with his wife.

— Jennifer Feehan

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